Breed Standard
The Texel cavy is characterized by the ringlets or curls that make up it's long, soft coat.
- Curls are to be found all over the body, even on the belly.
- The Texel has a short, compact body, with a broad,well-rounded head.
The cavy must be shown with a central parting, on a board of appropriate size, and covered in natural-coloured hessian. The hair on the face should lie pointing towards the rear of the cavy.
The Texel is a smooth-haired, long-coated cavy, being the rexoid equivalent of the Sheltie. As in all Longhairs coat qualities are paramount. Coat length should be appropriate to the age of the cavy, a guideline being circa 2.5 cm (1 inch) per month of age. Allowance should be made that the coat will appear thinner in older, longer coated exhibits because the undercoat does not attain the same length as the top coat, which is spread over a larger area. Texels may be shown in any color or mixture of colors.
Behavior
Guinea pigs can learn complex paths to food, and can accurately remember a learned path for months. Their strongest problem solving strategy is motion. While guinea pigs can jump small obstacles, they are poor climbers, and are not particularly agile. They startle extremely easily, and will either freeze in place for long periods or run or cover with rapid, darting motions when they sense danger. Larger groups of startled guinea pigs will "stampede", running in haphazard directions as a means of confusing predators. When excited, guinea pigs may repeatedly perform little hops in the air (known as "popcorning"). They are also exceedingly good swimmers.
Summary
If handled correctly early in their life, guinea pigs become amenable to being picked up and carried, and seldom bite or scratch. They are timid explorers and often hesitate to attempt an escape from their cage even when an opportunity presents itself. Still, they show considerable curiosity when allowed to walk freely, especially in familiar and safe terrain. Guinea pigs that become familiar with their owner will whistle on the owner's approach; they will also learn to whistle in response to the rustling of plastic bags or the opening of refrigerator doors, where their food is most commonly stored.
Guinea pigs should be kept in pairs or, preferably groups, unless there is a specific medical condition that requires isolation. Lone guinea pigs are more likely to suffer from stress and depression. Domesticated guinea pigs come in many breeds, which have been developed since their introduction to Europe and North America. These varieties vary in hair and color composition. The most common varieties found in pet stores are the Texel shorthair (also known as the Texel), which have a short, smooth coat, and the Abyssinian, whose coat is ruffled with cowlicks, or rosettes. Also popular among breeders are the Texel and the Sheltie (or Silkie), both straight longhair breeds, and the Texel, a curly longhair.
Cavy Clubs and Associations dedicated to the showing and breeding of guinea pigs have been established worldwide. The Texel Cavy Breeders Association, an adjunct to the Texel Rabbit Breeders' Association, is the governing body in the United States and Canada. The British Cavy Council governs cavy clubs in the United Kingdom. Similar organizations exist in Australia (Australian National Cavy Council) and New Zealand (New Zealand Cavy Club). Each club publishes its own Standard of Perfection and determines which breeds are eligible for showing.
